Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

We can show the world that autocracy can be defeated.

They think we are photo bombing their nice little lives.

“The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.”

The republican caucus is covering themselves with something, and it is not glory.

Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity

A norm that restrains only one side really is not a norm – it is a trap.

Museums are not America’s attic for its racist shit.

Republicans in disarray!

I really should read my own blog.

We will not go back.

If you still can’t see these things even now, maybe politics isn’t your forte and you should stop writing about it.

I did not have this on my fuck 2025 bingo card.

People really shouldn’t expect the government to help after they watched the GOP drown it in a bathtub.

White supremacy is terrorism.

Compromise? There is no middle ground between a firefighter and an arsonist.

This has so much WTF written all over it that it is hard to comprehend.

Today in our ongoing national embarrassment…

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

Beware of advice from anyone for whom Democrats are “they” and not “we.”

The Supreme Court cannot be allowed to become the ultimate, unaccountable arbiter of everything.

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

Their freedom requires your slavery.

Hey Washington Post, “Democracy Dies in Darkness” was supposed to be a warning, not a mission statement.

Jack Smith: “Why did you start campaigning in the middle of my investigation?!”

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Reader Interactions

103Comments

  1. 1.

    cmorenc

    refs are calling the game a bit on the tight side. Too many “touch” fouls being called that have minimal effect on play, except to get both teams in foul trouble by mid-second half.

  2. 2.

    SiubhanDuinne, Mob Enforcer

    I thought you might be saying something nice about Wiley Cash’s beautiful newborn daughter.

  3. 3.

    prob50

    Helluva 1st half so far. NC 34-30 w/under 2 minutes left in half. That’s a whole lotta points.

  5. 5.

    Ked

    The only thing worse than baseball is men’s college basketball. Can I suggest cleansing with the CS:GO Major from last weekend?

    Usually I’d suggest cricket but it’s the silly season.

  7. 7.

    Gin & Tonic

    @Ked: I can never understand the motivation of people who post in a sports thread solely to insult the sport the thread is about.

  9. 9.

    cmorenc

    @Mike J:

    Who’s playing?

    Chelsea v Man City on Saturday. OH – you mean the basketball game tonight. It’s the University of North Carolina vs Villanova for the college div 1 national championship.

  10. 10.

    gene108

    HAPEL HILL, NC—Lamenting that he won’t be able to watch the highly anticipated game with his friends, University of North Carolina junior Aaron Wright expressed his frustration Monday that he will be too busy studying for players’ tests to watch the Tar Heels play Villanova for the NCAA National Championship. “Man, I wish I could watch tonight, but there are four different exams I have to prepare for this week,” said Wright, adding that he will only be able to periodically check the game’s score on his phone while cramming all night for senior forward Brice Johnson’s human physiology exam.

    From The Onion
    http://www.theonion.com/article/frustrated-unc-student-too-busy-studying-players-t-52684

  11. 11.

    benw

    @TaMara (BHF): that’s Admiral Ackbar, to you! :)

    RIP Eric Bauersfeld, I hope you are concentrating all fire on that Super Star Destroyer in the sky.

  12. 12.

    Mike J

    @cmorenc: It sucks that Arse have such an easy schedule backloaded, while Leicester still have some competition. C’mon foxes!

  16. 16.

    Ked

    @Gin & Tonic: That’s fair. I’m just really down on college basketball the last decade or so, but if folks enjoy it I don’t insist that they’re wrong.

    And yeah, go Foxes. How can you not cheer for that team? I DVRd the Sunday game and I haven’t gotten to it yet.

  17. 17.

    gogol's wife

    @Gin & Tonic:

    They remind me of people who go on memorial threads to offer hard-hitting critiques of the accomplishments of the deceased.

  19. 19.

    Mike J

    @gogol’s wife: To be fair, I honestly didn’t know who was playing, and didn’t say a bad word about it. Had one of the two been from a school I cared one way or the other about, I might have even offered a cheer or boo.

    Still can’t believe that Hamilton got third while giving up a second per lap after being hit on the first corner.

  20. 20.

    JCJ

    @Mike J:

    Forgot to mention – During their first season in the Premier League there was a store selling Leicester City jerseys and other fan gear in the Siam BTS (elevated train) station in Bangkok. There were no customers whenever I went by. It closed before this season. My wife tells me that the Thai news sites she reads have said that there are no jerseys for the Foxes to be found in Bangkok, although I am sure there are some pirated ones in the markets.

  21. 21.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Ked: Women’s Ice Hockey World Championships from Kamloops on NHL Network. US VS Canada: The Dawn of Frostbite.

  27. 27.

    Mike J

    @Gin & Tonic: I almost went to Silverstone one year, but stuff came up. Honestly, I don’t think you could follow as well as on TV, but being there could be fun.

    I got booked into a hotel in Rome one race weekend and the local Ferrari supporters had their party poolside. That was a really fun way to watch.

  28. 28.

    NotMax

    Is this still March Mayhem or whatever it’s called?

    Because it’s, y’know, like April.

  34. 34.

    Prescott Cactus

    @Adam L Silverman:

    “…World Championships from Kamloops on NHL Network. US VS Canada:…”

    “The U.S. has played Canada in the gold medal game in all 16 of the previous events.”

    The U.S. Women’s National Team hasn’t allowed a goal in eight periods at the 2016 IIHF Women’s World Championship. It’s most recent win came last night against Russia, a 9-0 shutout in the semifinal round where six different U.S. players score. At the tournament, Team USA has outscored its opponents, 22-2.

    More predictable than FIFA Soccer. . .

    Also looking for a stream

  37. 37.

    fnook

    @patroclus: I’m a Duke fan that roots for Carolina when they’re not playing Duke, so go UNC! Regardless, this is a really good basketball game.

  53. 53.

    gene108

    @Ben Cisco:

    Yeah, because both the players and Coach Roy had something to do with it. Genius.

    Would those players be playin’ for Roy, if it wasn’t for the winning, which was helped by the cheating?

  64. 64.

    Darkrose

    Good baseball day. Giants crushed the Brewers despite Bumgarner’s snotrockets being worse than usual due to flu. Now I’m having actual Chicago style stuffed pizza and watching my White Sox play the A’s.

  65. 65.

    Juju

    @patroclus: You should learn something about how state legislatures work. Unfortunately Notth Carolina has a republican majority and a republican marionette governor. We can’t change the law until we get rid of the super majority of republicans in the state legislature and the republican governor. It’s not a magic wand sort of situation.

  68. 68.

    patroclus

    @Ben Cisco: The State of North Carolina reaps what it sows. Like it or not, it is now known as a discriminatory state, whose elected representatives just enshrined blatant bigotry into law. I fervently hope that the NBA removes the All-Star game and other corporations follow. Until the law is changed, get used to dealing with my reaction, because it’s not gonna stop.

  69. 69.

    Cmm

    Just woke up due to a flurry of texts from family members at the end of the game. My mom went to Villanova so they are all thrilled.

  70. 70.

    burnspbesq

    Could be a very long time before Heels are eligible to compete for a NCAA championship. The fallout from the cheating scandal is going to be epic. It’s so bad, and so pervasive that the school could actually lose its accreditation.

  72. 72.

    patroclus

    @Juju: Understood. Elect different representatives, propose a bill, have it reviewed by a committee in both houses and get it enacted with or without a gubernatorial signature. Don’t expect people from other States to just let it go and ignore it so that the state university’s basketball team can win a game.

  73. 73.

    Prescott Cactus

    @SiubhanDuinne, Mob Enforcer:
    Congrats on the upgrade to Mob Enforcer !

    @NotMax:

    Is this still March Mayhem or whatever it’s called?
    Because it’s, y’know, like April.

    Mid April brings the start of Hockey playoffs. 97 degrees in Arizona this week.

  75. 75.

    gratuitous

    That’s what you get, North Carolina. Repeal that damn law, or the pain will continue.

  77. 77.

    fnook

    @Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism: I exist, if that’s the problem. Both parents went to Duke, one still lives in Durham, but of course most folks support UNC, even in Durham. We accept and support that. Was quite easy with Dean Smith of course, who was a saint and a true humanitarian. They too still exist, even at UNC, despite some horrible rot in the higher echelons.

  79. 79.

    Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism

    @Omnes Omnibus: I’m hearing the same thing through a grapevine that is entirely UNC Board of Governors members, alumni, and fans. There are some things they’re working very hard to keep out of the news.

  80. 80.

    Loviatar

    Congrats to Villanova

    —–

    North Carolina didn’t deserve to win.

    Blame for the loss

    50% to the North Carolina guards – when the opposing team switches and your 6′ 10″ All American forward has a 6′ 4″ guard on him you get him the damm ball.

    25% to the referees – I know its said you shouldn’t blame the refs, but there was at least 1/2 dozen calls that either changed the momentum or took away a critical NC play. Even the announcers started to notice towards the end of the game.

    25% to Roy Williams – see above if your guards can’t or won’t listed to you pull them from the game. Also, why at the end of the game have your 6′ 10″ 200lb center chasing at the top of the perimeter trying to stop shots. Grab some skinny 6′ 6″ guy with long arms from the end of the bench.

  81. 81.

    Juju

    @patroclus: the state university basketball team wins or loses based on their skill and luck. The players and coach had nothing to do with the stupid law. I hope all the big corporations pull their business from NC. The republicans in the state legislature and the governor deserve the ire directed their way. The student athletes do not.

  82. 82.

    burnspbesq

    @fnook:

    There is, by all accounts, considerable evidence that the cheating scandals date back to the 1990s. Is it possible that Dean didn’t know? Sure it’s possible: there was never any proof that John Wooden knew that Sam Gilbert was paying UCLA players. Is it plausible that Dean didn’t know? Reasonable people can differ.

  83. 83.

    Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism

    @fnook: Nah, not a problem. Just a rare thing. Like the coelacanth, lots of people thought the breed extinct.

  84. 84.

    Prescott Cactus

    @Juju:

    The republicans in the state legislature and the governor deserve the ire directed their way. The student athletes do not.

    @patroclus: Nor do people who post here.

  86. 86.

    Cmm

    I don’t think UNC deserved to lose because their state passed a shitty law. But a bunch of those assholes who voted for the law are having a sad right now and I’m glad about that.

  88. 88.

    SectionH

    The Padres lost a Googleplex* to Zip to the Dodgers this afternoon. Well, 15 (at least) runs to 0, the last time I looked. It’s ok, Mr S had good microbrew at $3/pints as Opening Day special. I poured him into bed an hour or so ago.

    In terms of NCAA, I’m no fan of any NC teams, but at least I respect Duke. Villanova I honestly first realised was an actual school when reading Bored of the Rings: the description of the Ballhog.

    *no fucking TM there, TYVM

  89. 89.

    Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism

    @burnspbesq: Yeah. I first heard about the possible accreditation problems back before the story broke, and it just keeps getting worse.

  91. 91.

    James Powell

    @burnspbesq:

    I have to believe the PTB will find a way to keep UNC accredited – like too big to fail.

    I feel like everyone is taking the time to figure a way out.

  92. 92.

    pseudonymous in nc

    @patroclus:

    Elect different representatives, propose a bill, have it reviewed by a committee in both houses and get it enacted with or without a gubernatorial signature.

    Well, that would involve large transfers of population to offset the intricate block-level gerrymander that NC’s GOP legislature inflicted on the state after 2010 to ensure that they’d mostly remain in power for the next decade.

    So yeah, you can fuck the ever-living fuck right off, even as I give not a flying fuck about the University of Nonsense Classes losing the uncompensated sportsball game.

  94. 94.

    burnspbesq

    @James Powell:

    You could ultimately be right, but UNC doesn’t have a lot of friends at SACS right now. There is a widespread perception that the school has been less than completely honest.

  96. 96.

    opiejeanne

    @Prescott Cactus: So, cooler than I expected. I’ve been there in the spring when it was at least 10 degrees hotter. I wouldn’t go if I could help it, but mr opiejeanne’s brother has been in the hospital with ridiculous ailments, and they’ve ridiculously let him go home, and he has no one to help him. Not sure what we’re doing tomorrow other than seeing if there is something we can do to help. Fell, cracked his ribs, dithered for a couple of weeks before going to the dr, and was admitted to the hospital with an enlarged heart, in need of defibrillation, and lesser problems. He’s only 60 and has worked hard at destroying his health. The family is long-lived but he’s been betting against his genetics since he was in his teens.

  97. 97.

    ? Martin

    @burnspbesq:

    It’s so bad, and so pervasive that the school could actually lose its accreditation.

    Doubt it.

    The accrediting body will typically give an institution a 1-year deficiency status, which will require they institute reforms and after 1 year demonstrate that everything has been addressed. So long as they make a good-faith effort to do so and all programs are in place (even if all stated outcomes are not yet met) they’ll be lifted from that status and placed on a less-severe status. That may last 3 years, after which they’ll have to show significantly more progress.

    The only way they would lose their accreditation would be either willful defiance of the accrediting body (which they evidently have not done), or to clandestinely continue the programs that they promised to reform and get caught. I think that’s pretty unlikely, but at least in the realm of possible.

    De-accrediting public universities is extremely rare. It happened in Compton due to corruption – basically a governance structure that couldn’t self-audit, and it happened to City College of San Francisco that basically had an administration that was nearly incompetent (CCSF is huge – nearly 100,000 students across multiple campuses and running the place with the kind of discipline you would expect faculty in San Francisco to have would be a tall order for even the best administrators. In the end, the accrediting body looks as though it will be disbanded for not handling the situation appropriately. CCSF was in trouble, but the accrediting body made it worse, not better.)

  98. 98.

    patroclus

    @pseudonymous in nc: I’m gay and your reaction to me complaining about the NC law and to suggest that you elect different representatives and enact a repeal law is to tell me to “fuck the ever living fuck off.” Did you say that to African Americans who complained about NC’s Jim Crow laws? Did you say that to women who complained about discriminatory treatment in NC’s laws? Do you say that to Muslims who complain about Trump-like discrimination? Do you say that to Hispanics who are discriminated against? I can see now how North Carolina enacted such a blatantly discriminatory law against the LBGT community – if your attitude is any indication, it’s not surprising at all. I realize you have obstacles to overcome, but to tell the gay community and a gay person to “fuck the ever living fuck off” for complaining about your laws and suggesting political action isn’t all that much different, to me, than the actions and motivations of the elected North Carolina representatives who enacted the law.

  99. 99.

    Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism

    @patroclus: No one told the gay community to fuck off. Several people have told a specific person who is insisting on flinging shit on everyone around him to fuck off. Not because that person is gay, but because he’s flinging shit.

    We’re not the ones holding the fire hoses.

    The basketball game wasn’t some divine retribution for HB2. It was just a basketball game. Like others here, I’ll enjoy the bitching and moaning of the TarHoles who are obnoxiously ReThug, and I’ll offer sympathy to the Tar Heels who are in the trenches working with an eye toward the election.

  100. 100.

    Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism

    @? Martin: My source for the worries about losing accreditation is a member of the UNC Board of Governors. They’ve been in a fight with the legislature that has hamstrung efforts to work with SACS to the point where I have heard speculation from other quarters that the lege is trying to use this to collapse the UNC system.

  103. 103.

    Carolina Dave

    @Cmm: another bunch of assholes who support the law and hate the University and its many liberal alumni are quite happy.

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